Cessna 177B accident near Ojai, California, May 13, 1985
On May 13, 1985 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Cessna 177B, registered N17239, was destroyed in an accident near Ojai, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 1985 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ojai, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177B · all 177Bs on the register
- Registration
- N17239 · no longer on the register · serial 17702523
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT ENTER A BOX CANYON IN LEVEL FLT AT AN ALT BELOW THE TOPS OF THE SURROUNDING RIDGES. THE ENG PWR SOUNDS WERE REPORTED AS 'NORMAL' BY THE WITNESSES. SHORTLY AFTER THE ACFT DISAPPEARED BEHIND A RIDGE, THE WITNESSES SAW BLACK SMOKE RISING FROM THE CANYON FLOOR. THE AREA OF THE CANYON WERE THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IS RELATIVELY NARROW, WITH STEEP SIDES AND A FLOOR WHICH RISES ABRUPTLY TO THE MOUNTAINS BEHIND. EXAMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED THAT THE ACFT IMPACTED NOSE DOWN IN A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE IDENTIFIED DURING THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS FOR THE PLT TO EXAMINE THE WATER DRAINAGE IN THE CANYON.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 75 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,450 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 6, 1985; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1F6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Oyres Corporation
The flight
- Departed from: CMA Camarillo CA at 9:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:49 pm from OXR, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.